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Hello all, well last Fall I lost 2 hives to a Small Hive Beetle (SHB) infestation. Old news...however, I remember that because the SHB's Winter over in the soil they would freeze up and be gone, at least until the Southern Packages and Nucs appear.
Well, I opened a hive today and sure enough there were several SHB's running around. I reinstalled a couple of traps and hopefully the bees will chase them to their DOOM !!! I did manage to squish a few also. Felt real good.
Any thoughts or advice ??? Also, I spread a thick layer of lime around the hives last Fall...I guess it did not work. Stay Healthy everyone...Peter
Well, I opened a hive today and sure enough there were several SHB's running around. I reinstalled a couple of traps and hopefully the bees will chase them to their DOOM !!! I did manage to squish a few also. Felt real good.
Any thoughts or advice ??? Also, I spread a thick layer of lime around the hives last Fall...I guess it did not work. Stay Healthy everyone...Peter
Peter, I've seen the same. But, I've never seen the beetles that overwintered begin reproducing. I wonder what the optimum breeding Age of adult beetles. Did you actually lose the colonies due to beetles, or did they take over a failing colony?
Hi Mike, the two hives last Fall got so far ahead with the infestation that I had deep frames all full of nasty smelly maggots and the Queens continued to leave. Some was my fault because I was running 3 deeps for brood boxes and seldom looked in the bottom box. My big mistake. Anyway I got rid of the Bad frames and added several traps to my other hives. Perhaps they overwintered and won't be a problem, at least until the Southern Invasion occurs.
And yes, they were not strong colonies and the one today is not too strong either. I am thinking about shaking some bees from an adjoining strong colony to see if increased numbers will help chase the beetles into the traps.
On another note, I have bees flying in today with white pollen in their baskets. At least something is going right..
Thanks Mike and stay healthy. Peter
And yes, they were not strong colonies and the one today is not too strong either. I am thinking about shaking some bees from an adjoining strong colony to see if increased numbers will help chase the beetles into the traps.
On another note, I have bees flying in today with white pollen in their baskets. At least something is going right..
Thanks Mike and stay healthy. Peter
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